Dowsett on flying form ahead of Worlds

Britain’s Alex Dowsett clocked a super-fast 46 minutes and 58 seconds at the North Hampshire Road Club 25-mile time trial on Saturday, showing he’s on great form for the forthcoming World Championships in Australia.

Dowsett joins just a handful of riders to have achieved a sub-47 minute time over 25 miles. Last year David McCann beat Chris Boardman’s 1993 British record of 45-57 by timing 45-54 at the Port Talbot Wheelers 25. British champion Michael Hutchinson’s 25-mile personal best is 46-01, set at the Hirwaun Wheelers 25 last year.

Dowsett is representing Great Britian in both the under-23 road race and individual time trial at the UCI road cycling World Championships in Geelong, Australia, from September 29-October 3. He will then ride in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi (October 3-14).

Last year, Dowsett placed seventh in the under-23 men’s time trial at the Worlds in Mendrisio, Switzerland. The event was won by Australian Jack Bobridge.

The 21-year old from Essex has spent the year riding for the US-based Trek-Livestrong development team, and is now set to switch to an yet-to-be-announced senior team for the 2011 season. He won the European under-23 time trial earlier this year and a stage of the Cascade Cycling Classic in the US.